The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Volume 1

Actors: Tomokazu Sugita, Aya Hirano, Minori Chihara, Yuko Goto, Crispin Freeman

Language: English (Unknown), Japanese (Unknown)

Episodes 1-4, the Adventures of the ASOS Brigade

Despite the series title, Haruhi Suzumiya is anything but melancholy: she's an eccentric, outspoken high school girl who's searching for "aliens, time travelers, and espers." To aid her search, she founds a new club, The SOS Brigade, and blithely usurps space, shanghais members, and steals equipment. When she gives orders, Kyon, the long-suffering narrator, obeys, as do the three other members. Although she doesn't realize it, Haruhi has actually found what she's looking for in her recruits: Yuki is an alien, Mikuru is a time traveler, and Itsuki is an esper. Kyon is normal--at least superficially. Haruhi possesses extraordinary but unrevealed powers that draw the exotic cast to her. Based on a series of best-selling novels by Nagaru Tanigawa, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya overflows with zany energy. Like Dokkoida and Magical Shopping ArcadeAbenobashi, the characters make fun of the clichés of anime and otaku culture. The challenge for the filmmakers is to maintain this level of insanity while presenting a coherent story. (Rated 13 and older: cartoon violence, risqué humor) --Charles Solomon